Will OPEC reach deal to stop oil's slide?

The energy industry will have its eyes on OPEC Wednesday as member nations plus Russia meet in Vienna to try to reach a deal on production cuts. If members can put aside their political differences — and that's a big if — they may stabilize oil prices for the first time since the same members sent the commodity into a freefall two years ago. Hopes of a deal have injected some life into oil prices recently, but any meaningful agreement will require Saudi Arabia and Iran to come together despite their ongoing rivalry.

Castro's ashes travel from Havana to island's east

The cremated remains of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro will travel Wednesday on the first part of a ceremonial journey from the capital, Havana, to the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, where in 1953 he first launched his revolution to take over the island nation. The route traces in reverse the "Freedom Caravan" of January 1959 in which Castro and his rebels took power. Castro's ashes will be interred in Santiago on Dec. 4 in the same cemetery where Cuban national hero José Martí is buried.

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Schoolchildren wait in line to view Cuban icon Fidel Castro's final resting place at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in Santiago de Cuba on the day following his funeral, Dec. 5, 2016. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Fidel Castro's ashes pass by lines of people in the streets to his final resting place and funeral service on Sunday morning, Dec. 4, 2016, at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in Santiago de Cuba. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

A woman photographs a poster in Santiago, on Dec. 2, 2016, as residents prepare for the arrival of the ashes of Fidel Castro. Castro chose to be interred in eastern Cuba because that was where he was from and where his revolution started. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

People line the road between Jatibonico and Jicotea waiting for the procession of the remains of Cuba's late president Fidel Castro to pass by heading to his final resting place in Santiago de Cuba.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Soldiers cry after the urn with the ashes of Cuban leader Fidel Castro was driven through Santa Clara during its four-day journey across the island for the burial in Santiago de Cuba. Ronaldo Schemidt, AFP/Getty Images

A woman cheers as the urn with the ashes of Cuban leader Fidel Castro is driven through Santa Clara on Dec. 1, 2016, during its four-day journey across the island for the burial in Santiago de Cuba. Ronaldo Schemidt, AFP/Getty Images

The urn with the ashes of Cuban leader Fidel Castro is driven through Santa Clara, Cuba, Dec. 1, 2016, during its four-day journey across the island for the burial in Santiago de Cuba. Ronaldo Schemidt, AFP/Getty Images

The Caravana de la Libertad, or the Caravan of Freedom, transports Fidel Castro's ashes through the town of Matanzas, Cuba, Nov. 30, 2016. Wednesday marks the first day of the cross-country caravan which started in Matanzas and will end in Santiago on Saturday, with the funeral to be held Sunday. Dorothy Edwards, Naples Daily News, via USA TODAY Network

Young people pass the time along with thousands of other people waiting hours before the memorial service for Cuba's late president Fidel Castro in Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba, Nov. 29, 2016.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

People stand in line to pay tribute to Cuba's late president Fidel Castro in Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba, Nov. 29, 2016. Castro's ashes will be interred in Santiago on Dec. 4. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Rafaela Vargas mourns the death of former president Fidel Castro at the entrance of her home in the Vedado neighborhood in Havana, Cuba, on Nov. 26, 2016. Castro, who led a rebel army to improbable victory in Cuba, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of U.S. presidents during his half-century rule, died at age 90. Desmond Boylan, AP

People with images of Fidel Castro gather one day after his death in Havana, Cuba, on Nov. 26, 2016. Cuba will observe nine days of mourning for the former president who ruled Cuba for half a century. Ramon Espinosa, AP

A Cuban flag flies at half-staff, left, and a picture of Fidel Castro decorates the headquarters of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), one day after Castro died in Havana, Cuba, Nov. 26, 2016. Desmond Boylan, AP

People gather at an office of the Popular Assembly, decorated with a picture of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, after the announcement of Castro's death on national TV by his brother Raul in Havana, Cuba, early Nov. 26, 2016. Ramon Espinosa, AP

Rain helps douse Tennessee wildfires

The Great Smoky Mountains might get some relief Wednesday as rain is expected to suppress dangerous wildfires that killed three in Gatlinburg, Tenn. An inch of "beneficial rain" is expected overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning, adding to the three-fourths of an inch of rain that fell in the resort town a day earlier and reduced the fires there, according to the National Weather Service. The historic blazes destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses in Gatlinburg alone, prompting 14,000 people to evacuate from the town and 2,000 to seek refuge in emergency shelters.

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Video shot by a resident evacuating from the fires shows homes and resort cabins engulfed in flames as the wildfire moved throughout the forested area. (Nov. 29)
AP

Risk-takers poised for Treasury, Commerce jobs

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate two businessmen to Cabinet-level positions and make the announcements as early as Wednesday. Steven Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive, is Trump's pick for U.S. Treasury secretary, according to a source close to the transition team. The source also said billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is being chosen as Commerce secretary. Ross made a career out of buying ailing companies in sometimes troubled sectors on the cheap, restructuring them and then selling them for billions of dollars. Both nominees are considered risk-takers in the business world.

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Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is expected to be President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Commerce secretary, a senior transition official said. Trump met with Ross on Sunday at his New Jersey golf club.
AP

AT&T launches new DirecTV Now streaming service

AT&T takes aim at consumers looking to trim or eliminate their pay-TV services with the launch Wednesday of its new DirecTV Now streaming service. Consumers can subscribe to various levels of DirecTV Now to stream 60 to 120-plus channels, starting at $35 monthly (you can get a free 7-day trial at directvnow.com). Programming will be delivered via the Net to smartphones and tablets, as well as connected TV devices such as Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Those who use AT&T Wireless will not have video use count against their data limits. Not sold yet? There are also new channels from Taylor Swift and Reese Witherspoon.